Spaghetti comes in several different forms, each with slightly different nutritional values. The basic ingredients of most spaghetti pasta remain flour, water and egg. Some spaghetti is enriched with added minerals or protein. Whole-wheat spaghetti contains less refined flour and a generally higher level of fiber, minerals and vitamins than the more highly processed white varieties. Spaghetti also contains very small amounts of protein.
Water and Calories
The most abundant nutrient and compound in cooked spaghetti is water. It makes up between 62 and 67 percent of the total weight, according to the USDA's National Nutrient Database. Much of this is added during cooking when the dried pasta expands to soak up some of the boiling water. In terms of energy value, a single cup of cooked white spaghetti contains 220 calories. A cup of whole-wheat spaghetti contains slightly less, with 174 calories, as well as a higher percentage of water.
Carbohydrates
After water, carbohydrates make up the bulk of spaghetti's nutritional content. Carbohydrates act as the body's most easily used fuel source. With white spaghetti almost 90 percent of those carbohydrates come from starch, a very common complex sugar. Whole-wheat spaghetti contains less starch and much more fiber. For example, a cup of white spaghetti has 2.5 grams of fiber and whole-wheat versions, 6.3 grams. Dietary fiber can keep your bowel movements smooth and regular, as well as lower your risk of heart disease.
Vitamins and Minerals
In general, the vitamin content of white cooked spaghetti is relatively low. However, fortified spaghetti often contains added folic acid, a valuable nutrient in fetal development. Spaghetti also lacks significant levels of any one mineral. Whole-wheat spaghetti has small amounts of potassium, a mineral crucial to blood pressure and nerve function, as well as phosphorus and magnesium. But it contains only 4 milligrams of sodium per cup. White spaghetti, on the other hand, has almost 183 milligrams of sodium per cup.
Considerations
Spaghetti is rarely served plain and on its own. Usually, a sauce such a Bolognese along with grated cheese or other topping accompanies the pasta. Store-bought pasta sauces often contain high levels of salt and sugar. Adding meat to the sauce increases the protein content of the spaghetti meal. Extra vegetables such as carrot or chopped bell pepper will boost the vitamin and mineral content, including increasing vitamin C and potassium levels.
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